A Play of Giants

Wole Soyinka is the conscience of this age-African Shakespeare, African Tagore or whatever else you may call him; we feel proud to be his contemporaries. I recommend his "A Play of Giants" which throws ample light on the hollowness of character of some of the rulers of the African Continent. OTHERS BEWARE PLEASE. Wole Soyinka is fearless, Wole Soyinka is prophetic and Wole Soyinka is a giant himself - A good one at that./Dilbag Firdausi, India

The idea of putting the power raving African leaders on the satirical spot with an Idi Amin [conveniently disguised] as their "moral" leader is simply spell binding. Soyinka tells us clearly from an insider's point of view, what a good number of African leaders discuss in their "official" meetings. In the play, Soyinka expertly underscores unseriously the seriousness of the rulers’ unseriousness towards their country's problems with comical humour and an ever present moodiness, overhanging like the sword of Damocles always threatening to fall at any moment. In a nut shell, it is an epitomy of poetic dramatization and an artistic whole./Ikechukwu Nnaemeka, Nigeria

A Shuttle in the Crypt

The collection of Soyinka's poetry was published following his 2 year imprisonment by the Nigerian government. Many of these poems describe what the author calls "the landscape of the loss of human contact."/Krishnendu Mukherjee, India

Aké. The Years of Childhood

Excellent writing that keeps you engrossed and fascinated as you go into the young life of Wole. A guru of words./Oluwatosin Atala, Nigeria

The graphic description of childhood of the author./Jimoh Oladapo Sulahiman, Nigeria

Very easy to understand ... makes me feel I was in Aké, where it all happened .../Adeyinka Adewunmi, Nigeria

It gives a comprehensive account of his childhood experience./Olumide Soyemi, Nigeria

A very good read, written in a very light tone. Any autobiographic text, especially one limited to the first eleven years of the author's life, has to be extremely well written to be both interesting and believeable. Little Wole manages to be highly intelligent, perceptive, funny and childish and convincing. Should appeal to young and adult, trandscend borders, real or imagined and carry a crucial message in the manner that Animal Farm did./Mhashe Thaba, South Africa

Death and the King's Horseman

Wole Soyinka is one of the foremost contemporary writers. He is also one of the most imaginative advocates of native culture and the humane social order it embodies. The first African to win a Nobel Prize in literature for his country - Nigeria; he is 'The African Tagore' ( in my sincere and esteemed estimate of him). Wole Soyinka is primarily a Dramatist and an authority on African drama. I like and recommend his 'Death And The King's Horsemen'- a drama based on a true episode about which another compatriot; Duro Ladipo had already written a play in Yoruba language titled "Obo Waja"-The King Is Dead. The plot of the play deals with the self inflicted subservience of the African people through succeeding generations- to the extent that when a horseman who refuses to be buried alongside his dead Master - a Tribal Chief; his foolish son ( a qualified Doctor) submits himself for the sacrifice. The book throws light on the Cultural confluences, Cultural juxtapositions as well as the sincerity of the People of the "WELL LIT CONTINENT". It was this sincere espousal with the cause of ' Humane Social Order' that Africa was to become the 'Cradle Of Freedom Seekers' after Gandhi Ji was dumped off a train at Pietermaritzberg - South Africa./Dilbag Firdausi, India

The play Death and the king's horseman vividly pointed out the importance of every culture which should be allowed to be practised in a way peculiar to the people. The book also promotes the level of africaness. It also shows the beauty of africa culture though the opposite in eyes of the colonial overlord. As a result of looking at the culture as barbaric it led to catastrofhic era of the kingdom. In the long, the book is an advocate for modern realistic idea (realism)./Oguntoye Oluwatosin, Nigeria

It makes clear the distinction between cultures and traditions of different races and it also points a stopping finger to human limits - as portrayed between the white and the black in the play./Abiona Oluwafemi, Nigeria

The mastery of its language and the juxtaposition of two different cultures painted in deep imageries that ride on wardrobes of meanings./Akinniyi Akeem, Nigeria

The book simply tells us the mistake of our for-fathers. The book lets us know that the dead has nothing to do with the living ones, just as the king-horseman refuses to be buried along the king. People were waiting to see what would happen to him but nothing happened, not when the horseman's son foolishly submitted himself to the king's men to be buried along with the king which cannot be buried without his horseman that will ride him there in the other world, but for the king's men that is the best thing you can do for them./Onovo Ubaka Timothy, Nigeria

It a classic comedy, set in the 1950's. It's enriched with the traditions and culture of Nigeria./Ogunbadeniyi Tinuade Mary, Nigeria

Because it is an interesting story which I found so interesting while I was in Secondary school./Adeoye Temitope C., Nigeria

It is very very creative./Ugwokegbe Gloria, Nigeria

Because it is a good and fantastic story./Faruk, Nigeria

It paints a vivid picture of a typical precolonial Africa./Tobi, United States

I like it because it teaches moral lessons./Stephen, Nigeria

I will remain greatful to God for giving this generation a great man, Prof. Wole Soyinka. When I read the book it was fantastic and very educative, this book lunch me to the world of READING. Sir, I pray for long life in good health, Sir, I wish to be like you because you remain as my role model./Olasupo Olabrewaju Temitope, Nigeria

I have been hearing about Prof. Wole Soyinka right from my primary school, but then I did know the importance until recently when I read 'The Lion And The Jewel' for my school certificate examination. Then I got to know that Professor Wole Soyinka is the African Shakespeare of his generation. Sincerely, I doff my hat for the model of millions of literature students both in Africa and other parts of the world. Sir, may you live in elixir. /Ibrahim Kogbe, Nigeria

Its presentation and logic puns in the speech./Sheriff O. Azeez, Nigeria

I was a science student till my year two but then I discovered my talent as a writer. I didn't know how to go about it but later I changed my department to Art. Of course, the Art department is a lovely one but I was not used to reading so, one day a friend of mine gave me the book 'The Lion and the Jewel.' By the time I opened the book to read, it was amazing. The professor's style of writing was great. I had not fallen in love with any book as I fell for the Prof's book. I didn't drop it till I finished reading it. Honestly, that book launched me into the world of reading. And one thing I did was that, I went to many bookshop I knew and gathered the professor's books. I tell you today, I got A1 in literature in my final year exam. I am now an artist and also a play write. I tell many people to read that book most especially the young aspiring writers. That would lead them to their destination in writing. Prof. Wole Soyinka is my inspirator (in writing) and one of the best things that can ever happen to me is to shake hands with him. I love you sir from Kola Oniyide a.k.a Kolistico./Kola ONiyide, Nigeria

The Man Died

It is artistically, a literary quality with a great resounding and evocation of the spirit of past events to affect the feelings of the readers. Dramatically, he brings the reader into participation in the feeling of the work./Peter Oluwole, Nigeria

I read it when I was in s s 111. I want to read it for the repeated time, but where to get the copy is the problem./Joshua Wula, Nigeria

It is about the political dynamics of Nigeria during the military era and how the vioces of the people were misunderstood./Anthony Waziri, Nigeria

It shows what is happening in my country across ages/generations./Oladele Fawusi, Nigeria

The way he explained his autobiography was excellent. I just love Soyinka,he's one of my best writers and I want to be a nobel laureate like him./Nnamdi Odibo., Nigeria

I love the contribution of the author towards the development of the country, Nigeria./Owolabi Abiola, Nigeria

I like this book because of its richness in words and plot. Actually, it's about the story of a man in prison./Victor, Nigeria

It has aspects that are brain tasking and also explicit on the description of an unbroken will in a period of solitary confinement and mind oppression. It portrays the act of non-violent bravery - of speaking loud, being tactical, dogged and determine at resisting this situation of oppression - even when it was necessary to pay some uncommon prices for human liberty./Tayo Eegunlusi, Nigeria

Einstein's theory of relativity took a flight into reality in one of the prisons in Nigeria. An artist in its moment of solitude anointed its thinking with the oil of mathematical solitude./Osahon Osemwengie, Nigeria

It's a very good read. It's an autobiography about the travails and prison experience of the author under a despotic Nigerian government. The author captures the despair of other people in the same situation./Depo Solarin, Nigeria

The Trials of Brother Jero and The Strong Breed

A classic potrayal of the lower cadre of the Nigerian society in the seventies and early eighties./Joe Odey, Nigeria

I like it because it is interesting and it tell us the happenings around us. It is a fantastic book. K££P IT UP, WOL£ $OYINKA./Jesumiseun Gbotosho, Nigeria

It is rich in ideas, very entertaining and filled with truth./Festus Olukoyw, Nigeria

To be candid, the play has been one of the most satirist satires that I have ever read. So realistic is the book's vivid portrayal of the dooms that loom large in a society where pseudo-prophets take the general sweep of any spiritual morality ever found. Prof. has succeeded in re-defining beautifully, the caricature of the ruled and the ruler. The play has been of great writing inspiration to me and of which I owe him a million thanks, he being my role model./Atitebi Ayomide Israel, Nigeria

It talks about African societies./Djiffack Giresse, Cameroon

The fact that Amope was the nemesis that charlatans like Jero deserved./B.J, United States

Because of its setting and thoughts./Samuel, Nigeria

It presents the Africans in their environment and peculiar situations without being crude or overbearing./Michael Salako, Nigeria

Soyinka takes a swipe at touts, rapists and vagabonds masquerading as religious and political leaders./Sonie Johnson, Germany

'Trials of Brother Jero', a play written by the acclaimed world literary icon, Professor Wole Soyinka, digs deep into the pseudo cleansed men of God of our age. It is full of humour and entertainment without leaving unportrayed the taylorised clergy whose pictures are portrayed by the pseudo cleansed Brother Jero. It is a classic that reveals the facts hitherto despite the fact that the work has been published some decades ago. Professor, you are the African literary Legend./Bamidele Kogbe, Nigeria

It is a satire of the false prophets who succeed in society. Quite a book to read for raw comedy./Don Dahiru, Egypt

You Must Set Forth at Dawn

Contains some details of facts that had been known to be rumours./Olufemi Opeyemi Oyadare, Nigeria